Chapter 23 - The Hunter Association 5

The person from yesterday who has a strange relationship with Kurando was the one who had raised their voice.

The staff member’s and Kurando’s height isn’t much different. But, their body is thin and lanky. The staff member has on a white shirt and navy blue trousers. Their stern businessman like facial expression doesn’t change despite having the appearance of an ordinary middle age staff member one could find anywhere. (T/N: gender not stated, yet)

This man, regardless of whether or not he wants to, his duty at the hunter association is to address the conflict and mediate a solution between the two.

It is a big problem that Zauru (ザウル) is going into a mad frenzy. The commanding officer 『white spear (白槍)』 had left the newcomer (Kurando) in his care. And thus, the staff member had prepared himself to intervene.

The other staff members that are watching this unfold felt relieved as they didn’t have to be the one to stop them.

The staff member made his voice heard and places himself in between the two. Although, it is his obligation that didn’t stop the staff member from breaking out into a cold sweat.

「Za, Zauru-sama which parts are necessary?」 (staff member)

Zauru somewhat calms down and he removes his hand away from the short-sword.

「……the feathers, the beak, and eyes.」 (Zauru)

「Kurando-san, which parts do you need?」 (staff member)

As the staff member mutters this to Kurando’s ear, Kurando questions why must he negotiation.

(Zauru-sama is the son of a member of the Dorugan parliament. This situation is problematic. Is negotiating in Kurando’s best interest?)

Although feeling dissatisfied Kurando answers.

「The meat and several long feathers.」 (Kurando)

The staff member forcibly brings his hands together (clap hands together).

「Hey, Kurando-san, please sell Zauru the feathers, the beak, and the eyes for a good price.」 (staff member)

After the staff member said this the people who are present move their line-of-sight to Kurando. Their gaze gathered to him.

「……fine, but dismantle it at the association.」 (Kurando)

Kurando merely says a few words. How many times had he sighed during this exchange?

「Understood, as you wish it will be dismantled at the association.」 (staff member)

Zauru says nothing more. It is unwise to cause any more disturbance at the association. Above all, he wants a congratulatory gift for his younger sister’s wedding. And, Zauru didn’t want it to be just any cheap gift.

Afterwards, a specialist was requested to dismantle the Azure Eagle, Sunibariooru (スニバリオール).

Unbeknownst to Kurando, the specialist happens to be one of the heroes. (T/N: no more information)

◆◆◆

From the Azure Eagle (Sunibariooru), Zauru will receive the vivid blue feathers on its body, its beak, and its eyes.

Along with all the meat, Kurando will receive the 3 long feathers that are about arms length. Zauru will pay Kurando 1,000 Rodo (about 100,000 Yen).

「Kurando-san, have you setup an account at the association?」 (staff member)

Before handing over the payment for the Azure Eagle the staff member asks Kurando this question.

「Which town or countries can it be used in?」 (Kurando)

「It can be accessed anywhere there is a hunter association branch. The association also provides a currency exchange service.」 (staff member)

「If that is the case, I would like to make one.」 (Kurando)

Kurando passes over his dog tag and the money that Makushiimu (マクシーム) had given him.

The staff member is startled to see the bundle of banknotes, but somehow they were able to stay calm. They accept the dog tag and the bundle of banknotes. And just like that things proceeded.

「The current balance in your account is 27,000 Rodo.」 (staff member)

His dog tag is returned. Kurando gathers his baggage and puts away the long feathers & meat. He exits the association building.

Kurando left the building with a weary expression on his face.

While Kurando was still inside the building, he felt the unpleasant gaze that Zauru had been given him the entire time they were there.

After leaving Kurando feels slightly relieved.

Kurando returns to the inn without taking any detours. He puts down his baggage and crawls into bed despite the sun still being up.

He plans to depart tomorrow morning despite leaving the room mostly vacant today. It was a short stay as it wasn’t too long ago that he received this reserved room. After the white phantom subjugation incident, Kurando had felt somewhat anxious about coming to this inn.

◆◆◆

The sun had not fully risen as inside the inn was still dim. So to not wake the other guest Kurando quietly left the inn. Kurando wondered if there are any other guest aside from him that are leaving the inn around this time.

Although Kurando had brought a linen shirt & leather boots, he still feels cold.

Kurando shivers.

He uses a little magic to strengthen his body. Kurando carries the large number of luggage on his back. He makes preparation before his departure into the mountain.

As it was too early in the day there were no new requests posted.

Kurando stares at the unaccepted request. He tears off one sheet and brings it to the reception counter.

「Can this request be turned in at any time?」 (Kurando)

The unfamiliar staff member who appears sleepy reads over the request.

「……hmm, 1 year, or half a year ago, after accepting this request you will have approximately 1 month to turn-it-in…… are you taking that request?」 (unfamiliar staff member)

Kurando nods and then hands over his dog tag. The staff member who is watching him has a surprised expression.

「Free request may not have a rank requirement, but you’re still currently a Ruterera (10th star).」 (unfamiliar staff member )

If several months pass without a posted request being accepted, with the client’s permission it can be changed to a free request.

「It shouldn’t be against the rule.」 (Kurando)

「That isn’t it. But, I must inform you that this request was originally for a 4th star, Gobodoraddzue (ガボドラッヅェ), or 2 ranks lower.」 (unfamiliar staff member)

「May I ask as to why this request was left uncompleted for so long?」 (Kurando)

Kurando inquires more information about the request from the staff member.

「It is embarrassing…… but, well, alright.」 (unfamiliar staff member)

It is about time for the shift of the sleepy staff member to end. The request Kurando chosen is processed and then he is brief about that particular request.

After taking the request Kurando departs from the village.

Behind the villages is the Arerudouria (アレルドゥリア) mountain range. Kurando looks up towards the mountain. Having been gone for quite some time, he felt homesick.

He wonders how Yukishiro and Akari are fairing.

Kurando stops thinking about it and heads toward the forest at the base of Arerudouria mountain.

◆◆◆

A group of men chased after the person that they had become familiar with.

Among the numerous wannabe hunters that are Zauru’s protege, one of them isn’t a hunter.

The hunters divide the Arerudouria mountain range into 3 areas. Around the foot of the mountain is the 『forest zone (森林帯)』. Next is the 『subalpine zone (亜高山帯)』; this is where the giant thorny spider, Atorabashiku (アトラバシク) resides. And, lastly the 3rd and final area is the 『alpine zone (高山帯)』; this is where the white phantom is said to reside.

It was sundown by the time Kurando exited the forest zone and reached the campsite in the subalpine zone.

The men chasing after Kurando are considerable tired. Despite Kurando carrying more baggage than them, they couldn’t keep up with him. However, it wasn’t like their mobility was any different from ordinary hunters.

While Kurando made his way through the forest he had been whistling.

Kurando defied the common sense of hunters. The unfamiliar tone that he was whistling got on the men’s nerves. They are irritated. By the time they reached the campsite, they are all glaring.

The sun had set and the fire spirits Kurando used had decreased.

Kurando gradually erased the fire spirits.

Only the moon’s faint blue light can be seen on the mountain. This place had become the domain of the dark.

The wind stops.

An arrow flies toward Kurando’s location.

In succession 2, 3 more arrows are fired to that location.

Kurando didn’t move.

Shortly after the group of men when to examine the campground with the light from fire spirits.

They shine the light on Kurando.

Kurando violently convulses and collapses.

The light illuminating the shadow literally causes it to fall apart. The shadow vanished.

「Shit! Where did he go? It’s only a Ruterera (10th star), search the area!」 (??? A)

「Seriously, you want us to search around in the middle of the night. Didn’t those guys who followed after Makushiimu got attacked by an Atorabashiku (giant thorny spider) around here?」 (??? B)

「Were they really attacked by a spider? It could’ve been that they got ambushed by that guy.」 (??? A)

「Now, now, calm down. It doesn’t matter how many lives you may have as it is dangerous to move around in the dark. That also applies to that guy.」 (??? B)

One of the men clicks their tongue. Today they will give up the pursuit.

They can only wish that the newcomer will become spider feed.

◆◆◆

Why didn’t Kurando call for Yukishiro by whistling?

Because, he didn’t want to expose his connection to Yukishiro.

Kurando had noticed that Yukishiro’s five sense already far outstrips his human senses.

And thus, that night.

When Kurando had noticed that he was being followed, he prepared a shadow substitute in advance. Normally on this dark trail, one person and one animal would be lead forward by relying on Yukishiro’s five senses. As Yukishiro is able to sense what a human cannot; it can see the webs of an Atorabashiku and avoid it. Kurando must pass through this area without Yukishiro’s assistance.

It took him twice as long to get past the subalpine zone than usual.

Before long the sky began to brighten up.

Akari had already awoken by the time he reached the cave.

Kurando restlessly looks around. Perhaps, he is searching for Yukishiro.

She wasn’t use to see Kurando around; therefore, Akari slightly paused before greeting him.

Kurando goes up the slope towards Akari. He finds a rock to sit down on to catch his breath.

「Janitor-san, good morning. How are you?」 (Akari)

「Ah, here is a souvenir. Uh, I’ve registered at the association. And, umm, I don’t mind if you stop addressing me so formally.」 (Kurando)

Kurando puts down his baggage. He retrieves the tail feathers and hands it to Akari. (T/N: is that a marriage proposal, Harvestmoon reference)

「Umm, Kurando-san? It sure is a beautiful blue, yes. Are these from a Sunibariooru (Azure Eagle)?」 (Akari)

「So you already knew, as expected of a senior hunter.」 (Kurando)

「P-please stop kidding around. Although I’ve spotted them flying in the sky a few times, this is the first time I’ve seen one of their feathers up close.」 (Akari)

Kurando felt something staring at him from behind. He turns around. Kurando sees Yukishiro pouting. It is sitting with its back facing Kurando. Its tail is silent.

「Yukishiro, there is no need to pout, I also have something for you.」 (Kurando)

Kurando placed the long azure blue feather on top of Yukishiro’s head.

……is that all? Yukishiro’s eyes soon expressed its displeasure.

「Its a joke.」 (Kurando)

Kurando quickly brings out the meat of the Azure Eagle that had been divided into blocks.

Yukishiro begins to sniff the meat that was presented to it. It didn’t particularly care for the head and the wing. Yukishiro bites into its first block of meat.

As expected from a magical beast. It can eat frozen meat similar to how a human can eat freshly sliced salmon, perhaps.

「Were you the one who subjugated this?」 (Akari)

Before answering Akari, Kurando confirmed that Yukishiro wasn’t in a bad mood due to the joke.

「Umm, ah, it attacked me after I had finished hunting Torabokku(s). Fortunately, I killed it before it could kill me. So, why must newcomers hunt Torabokku(s)?」 (Kurando)

Akari’s cheeks became stiff.

「Your first real hunt was a Suibariooru; it might be fate. With that kind of skill there is no way you’re at the level of a rookie hunter.」 (Akari)

「From here on this will be Yukishiro’s treasure. Now that I think about it this is the first time that I have fought alone. If I think about it, it’s fairly touching……」 (Kurando)

Kurando held the feather, that he kept for himself, up towards the sky and stares at it.

The sun shines on the pure blue feather and it shimmers.

「Did you sell the other feathers? It could be made into clothes. Hmm, there sure are a lot of baggage.」 (Akari)

Kurando is troubled by what Akari had said. He looks away from the feather.

「Nope, there was a troublesome guy――」 (Kurando)

Afterwards, Kurando informs them of the events that occurred after he descended down the mountain.

As Kurando talks, in the background Yukishiro has a satisfied expression as it cheerfully bites into its second block of meat. Although the flavor isn’t rich, the texture is light and crunchy.